RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- France drew 0-0 with 10-man Ecuador to advance to the second round of the World Cup on Wednesday, while the South Americans will be going home from the tournament.
[b]Lite Racer Schweiz[/b] . In the other final Group E game, Switzerland defeated 3-0 Honduras to finish in second place and join France in the knockout stages. Ecuador was down to 10 men short at Rios Maracana stadium after Antonio Valencia was shown a straight red card in the 50th minute for digging his studs into the leg of French defender Lucas Digne. But Ecuador may feel upset that France centre half Mamadou Sakho was not shown a red card in the eighth minute when he appeared to elbow Oswaldo Minda in the face during a France corner. Then, in a late incident off the ball, France forward Olivier Giroud jabbed his elbow in to Gabriel Achilier, who was standing behind him. France coach Didier Deschamps made six changes to his starting lineup, knowing his side was all but assured of advancing. France came closest to scoring when Antoine Griezmann hit the post in the 47th and then missed a string of late chances as its much-vaunted attacked failed to live up to the hype generated by last Fridays 5-2 win against Switzerland. An inspired Ecuador went close in the 82nd when substitute midfielder Alex Ibarra broke down the right, cut inside centre half Raphael Varane, and saw his powerful strike beaten away by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. Moments later, France striker Karim Benzema played a one-two with Giroud but stroked a casual shot that goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez easily saved. Dominguez had an outstanding match, denying substitute Loic Remy with a brilliant leaping save from the forwards curling shot in the 87th minute. Giroud should then have scored in injury time but planted a free header straight into Dominguezs hands. After France had hit the post, Ecuador almost took the lead in the 54th when Cristhian Noboa shot wide. Ecuador kept pushing forward, knowing it had to win because Switzerland was coasting. With more space, France pressured down both flanks and Benzema teed up Paul Pogba, whose shot was well blocked. Benzema was getting on the ball much more and he sent Blaise Matuidi through the middle in the 62nd, but the midfielder placed his shot too close to the goalkeeper. As time for Ecuador ran out, both sides went close. Pogba headed wide from close range and Benzema shot straight at Dominguez after cutting in from the left. Then, Edcuadors Michael Arroyo burst down the left but centre half Laurent Koscielny stood him up well and he shot wide. Pogba still had enough energy left to thump a powerful shot narrowly wide, while Ecuadors last chance came from a corner as France defended desperately to prevent an unexpected defeat. ------ Lineups: Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez; Jorge Guagua, Frickson Erazo; Juan Paredes, Cristhian Noboa (Felipe Caicedo, 89), Walter Ayovi, Oswaldo Minda, Antonio Valencia, Michael Arroyo (Gabriel Achilier, 82), Jefferson Montero (Alex Ibarra, 63); Enner Valencia. France: Hugo Lloris; Bacary Sagna, Mamadou Sakho (Raphael Varane, 61), Laurent Koscielny, Lucas Digne; Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Blaise Matuidi (Olivier Giroud, 67); Antoine Griezmann (Loic Remy 79), Karim Benzema, Moussa Sissoko.
[b]Adidas Tubular Schweiz[/b] . According to the Red Wings Twitter feed, Zetterberg plans to practice with the team on Thursday and is aiming for a second round comeback.
[b]Adidas Gazelle Schweiz[/b] . Scotlands Greg Laidlaw made one of two penalty kicks and all three conversions, and Stuart Hogg added a try in the second half. "The most important thing to come out of the game is that we did not get scored against," Laidlaw said.WINNIPEG - It appears the honeymoon is over between the Winnipeg Jets and their fans. Once rare game tickets at the MTS Centre are available, and those who attend have booed their 16-18-5 team for inconsistent play that has the club sitting at or near the bottom of their new, tough Central Division. Armchair general managers have also called for roster changes to the transplanted ex-Atlanta Thrashers team, while likeable head coach Claude Noel has had his job security questioned. And the fans arent the only ones voicing their frustration. Players are fed up with looking for the positives in each loss. "Its what you do out on the ice. You can blow smoke as much as you want in the media," right-winger Blake Wheeler told reporters after the Jets lost a sixth straight game at home on Dec. 14. "Weve been blowing smoke for three years – everyone, myself. Everyone thats stood in front of a microphone for the last three years, weve said the same (expletive)." The airing out of frustrations in Winnipeg is something new. When the Jets were resurrected in 2011, fans enthusiastically embraced the return of the NHL after a 15-year absence. Thirteen thousand season tickets with a minimum three-year commitment were snapped up, and unlucky fans paid $50 to join a wait list. The team was loudly cheered by 15,000 grateful admirers at home games, and were even given a standing ovation when the inaugural season ended with an overtime loss and no playoff berth. After last seasons NHL lockout ended, fans were just happy to head back to the rink and their adoration continued despite another campaign without post-season action. But in this third season, cracks are starting to show. When the home winless streak finally ended with a 5-2 victory over Florida on Dec. 20, there was relief, but no fist pumping as the team headed out on the road for what ended up being losses to Vancouver and Edmonton before its three-day Christmas holiday. Before boarding the plane for the road trip, Wheeler was asked if he senses the marriage with fans is hitting rocky times. "I think the expectations have risen every year," he said. "We took a step last year and we just missed the playoffs. I think a lot of us felt we were a playoff team. "And now, I think this is the best group weve had since weve been here so I think the expectations have risen pretty linearly since weve been here. "(The scrutiny) comes with the territory. Its a market that cares about the product on the ice and thheyre very passionate.
[b]Adidas Nmd r2 Schweiz[/b]. Theyre very enthusiastic when youre winning and very enthusiastic when youre losing, its just a different kind." Jets defenceman Zach Bogosian got a different view of fans when he recently missed 15 games with a groin injury. Did he feel the winds of change while sitting in the press box? "Its a touchy subject," Bogosian said. "Theyre usually pretty loud, but sometimes if the team is not playing as well as we should, some people get unhappy." Behind his mask, goalie Ondrej Pavelec hasnt noticed more unforgiving fans this season. "They cheer for us every time," he said. "Sometimes we play bad, we dont deserve it and theyre still there. I dont see any difference." He and Wheeler havent been sought out by fault-finding fans. "The people are all very respectful," Wheeler said. "When people see us out and about, theyre happy to see us out in the community. "The wins and losses are obviously very important, but at the same time were still people. Theres nobody that wants it more than we do in this locker-room. Its just a matter of going out there and doing it." Noel acknowledged fans have higher expectations this season. "I think weve had that sense for a while," he said. "After the first year, we had that sense that they would like more performance and the honeymoon is over. "We dont sit here and take our fan base for granted. They expect us to work, and they should, and perform." Prior to Winnipegs loss to the lowly Sabres in Buffalo earlier this month, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff revealed hes felt heat from critics. "If youre able to find a way to improve, then you try to act on it," he said. "But change doesnt always equate to improvement. "Change can certainly placate phone calls, emails on the different venues out there, but that doesnt necessarily mean thats the proper direction to go." Cheveldayoff, who extended Noels contract earlier this year through the 2014-15 season, was also asked if Noel is doing a good job. "Coaching in this league is a tough job," Cheveldayoff said. "Theres lots of second-guessing that goes on everywhere. "And thats the nature of it when youre in the public eye like this. Everyones got their own interpretation of whether someones doing a good job, not doing a good job. At the end of the day, I know that (all the coaches are) working hard and doing all they can." ' ' '
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